STRUTTING BEFORE WIFE

Evening Star, Issue 19411, 20 November 1926, Page 11

STRUTTING BEFORE WIFE

FALSE PRIDE LEADS 70 FALSE PREtENGE . AN UNUSUAL CASE [pgs United Press Association.] INVERCARGILL, November 19. The web that Albert Edward Beadle wove when first he commenced to deceive his wife was untangled in the Police Court to-day beiore Mr 6. Crmckshank, S.M., by Detective-sergeant Carroll, who prosecuted, and -Mr Ritchie, who represented the accused. Beadle had two charges to face, both being of obtaining money by tales pretences. Accused’s solicitor accounted * or , "I s client’s lapse from grace by a tale both tragic and romantic. Beadle was married about six months ago. At that time his prospects were rosy, and ho had enjoyed a happy honeymoon. Not, long after his return from this blisstul holiday ho lost bis position. _ Ihen, to use Mr Ritchie’s words, ‘‘his male instinct to make the best appearance, before the female caused him to commit the grievous error of not tolling his wife of his misfortune. For months there followed a deception that must have been a terrific strain on the principal actor. As far as his wife knew ; ho went to work as usual, and she received as before,- money for her household expenses. Unfortunately, this money had been borrowed by Beadle, 'and, when ordinary borrowing was no longer available, he resorted to less honest means of obtaining money, with the result that he appeared in court with two charges to face. The first intimation his wife had of things being amiss was a notice of a meeting of his creditors, for a short time ago Beadle’s affairs became so bad as to make such a meeting necessary. The charges were as follow:—That on August 26 he obtained from James Robertson the sum of £ls by false pretences, and that at Glenhara, on September 20, he obtained the sum of £lO from Duncan Campbell M'Kenzie by falsely representing that he had money in either the Invercargill Post Office Savings Bank or the Invercargill Savings Bank. Mr Ritchie asked that the second charge be dealt with first. Accused pleaded not guilty, and elected to be dealt with summarily. Detective-sergeant Carroll stated that accused had been touring round the country selling a wireless apparatus. He had called at Glenham. M'Kenzie kepi a store there, and was also in" charge of the post office. Accused had called at the store and Jiad asked for a post office cheque. M'Kenzie had informed him there was no such thing, and had advised him to ring up the postmastei at Wyndham. Accused had then asked him for £lO on loan, stating that he had money in the Post Office Savings Bank and would repay it in a ffcw days He had not paid the money back, do spite several letters from M'Kenzie, but the latter had received notice to attend a meeting of creditors in accused’s es tate.

Mr Cruickshank said that ho was quite satisfied that Beadle had borrowed the money by making a false statement He had led M'Kenzie to believe that ho had money in the Post Office. His statements might have been a bit vague, but M'Kenzie had been misled. Accused would have to be convicted. The second charge was then taken. Accused elected to be dealt with summarily, and pleaded guilty. It was stated by the police that Beadle had wanted money urgently, -and had raised £ls from a Mr Welsh on a Dodge car he was using. Mr Welsh had instructed his solicitor, Mr. Robertson, to prepare a bill of sale. Accused had stated that the car was his own, and was unencumbered. Mr Robertson had drawn up a document, accused had signed it, and had received £ls. He had not paid this -back. Gonnack and Pettigrew had seized the car under the hire purchase agreement, no instalments having been paid on it. Mr- Welsh’s security was therefore no good. The Magistrate: That is a crime under the Chattels Transfer Act. I gave a man three months for that in connection -with cattle.

Mr Ritchie said accused had been married six months ago. He had made his own furniture, and at the time of his marriage his prospects were rosy. He was earning £5 a week plus commission. Not long after his return from his honeymoon he lost his job. Accused did not drink, smoke, or gamble. His money had gone in houeshold expenses. It was a great mistake of his not to disclose to ms wife his true position. He had been a confounded fool to himself, and others had to suffer for his folly, his wife being the chief sufferer. He had been strutting before his wife and her people. His wife had left town, and would not go back to him until ho proved himself a man worthy of her respect. Beadle had had his lesson, and counsel urged that ho receive the most lenient treatment possible. Detective-sergeant Carroll said accused had a clean record. The Magistrate referred to his previous good character, but stated that he had done two very Wrong acts. Had he not got into trouble now he would have done so before long. The case was adjourned till Monday, so that the magistrate could receive the probation officer’s report.